Fire destroys family's home

Friday

Jan 10, 2014 at 9:15 AMJan 10, 2014 at 9:15 AM

By Andy BarrrandTwitter: @abarrandHDNNORTH ADAMS — Ottie and Kelly Cole and their 15-year-old daughter Chelsea woke up to the smell of smoke Thursday morning — and found their rural North Adams home engulfed in flames.Ottie said the family was lucky that Kelly woke up and smelled the smoke, because the smoke detectors that were in the house didn't go off until the house was filled with smoke.Upon realizing their house was on fire, the family grabbed what belongings they could and the family dogs and got out.Ottie said he tried to go back in the house to retrieve additional items but the smoke inside the house was too bad."I never felt so helpless," he said.When fire crews arrived on the scene, flames were coming from the roof at the back of the house, which sets back from the road at 1560 N. Tripp Road. Crews had to wait to have snow plowed out of the driveway before they could fight the fire.The fire started around 8:30 a.m. and crews from five departments cleared the scene around 11:33 a.m.Just minutes after the last department was cleared, Ottie and his friend Jason Spieth went back to the house to see if there were any belongings that could be salvaged as the house smoldered underneath their feet.What they found were the charred remains of all the family's possessions.Ottie was lucky enough to be able to find a wallet and an uncharted gun case.The fire was the second for the Coles in the last five years. The family previously lost a trailer they were living in on the same property to an electrical fire.Ottie said he wasn't sure what started Thursday's fire.The family of avid horse lovers also lost every bit of tack they had in a horse shelter that was attached to the house.Ottie said the saddles the couple lost were Kelly's pride and joy."I guess we will have to ride bareback for a while," said Chelsea as the family tried to find some comfort during a difficult situation."It is times like this you realize who your true friends are," Ottie said.Within minutes after the fire was reported Ottie said he had friends calling and offering whatever support they could.Spieth reassured the Coles that he already had clothes, coats and other necessities on the way to help them.A representative from the local Red Cross was also on hand to assist the family.Fire crews from North Adams, Pittsford, Hillsdale Rural, Hillsdale City and Hudson departments assisted.